Tag: Philippines

Manila, Philippines – Globe’s corporate venture builder, 917Ventures, has launched a new portfolio company, iNQUiRO, to help SMEs make data-driven decisions in their operations.

The start-up aims to address the challenges encountered by businesses in their journey towards data-driven insights, which include access to the right data, tools, and technology. Its products are designed to provide organizations with the knowledge that creates impact from customer analytics to risk assessment and even fraud detection.

For instance, iNQUiRO’s 360° Customer Dashboard and Audience Builder, an intuitive platform, gives clients access to valuable consumer information particularly, behaviors and trends. The service is complete with optimized tools and resources that help businesses transform data into valuable and actionable insights and explore various opportunities.

Furthermore, iNQUiRO’s Credibility Score intends to use behavioral data in creating a credibility profile for consumers to help businesses assess the credibility of consumers with limited or no available financial data and to provide these consumers with access to a wider range of financial products.

Pancho Reyna, iNQUiRO’s chief operating officer, said, “By providing organizations of all sizes with access to otherwise unobtainable insights, we enable them to make exceptional and impactful data-driven decisions. This is what makes iNQUiRO truly a game-changer.”

Meanwhile, Vince Yamat, 917Ventures’s managing director, shared, “As we expand our services and continue to grow our portfolio companies, we are committed to taking Globe’s vision of creating a digital nation forward, as we empower more Filipinos through our tech and digital solutions.”

Aside from iNQUiRO, 917Ventures’ lineup of portfolio companies also includes mobile wallet giant GCash, digital health companies KonsultaMD and HealthNow, and digital marketing solutions firm AdSpark, as well as online grocery platform PureGo, and loyalty and e-commerce solutions provider RUSH.

Singapore – Global action star Jackie Chan was recently announced as top e-commerce Shopee’s newest ambassador in August which was launched as part of the platform’s 9.9 campaign. Shortly after, Chan makes a comeback to viewers’ screens for the platform’s 11.11 campaign. 

In light of the backlash from some advertising and creative professionals on Shopee’s current ad for 11.11, MARKETECH APAC reached out to social listening platform Digimind to learn about how the mass audience perceives the latest campaign. 

On October 25, just a few days after Shopee released its 11.11 ad with the international star, Singapore-based marketing expert Richard Bleasdale stirred quite a conversation on LinkedIn by sharing a post about the ad, describing it as the “worst ad ever made.” Soon, the post drew quite traction, serving as an invitation for other creative and marketing leaders to share their verdict on the ad–which was a unanimous disappointment over Shopee’s chosen creative direction.

The general audience, meanwhile, had been split on their perception of the ad. According to Digimind’s analysis, some had found the 11.11 campaign endearing, while a fraction showed displeasure over the latest campaign mixed with some neutral liking.

The main narrative of the ad in question was Jackie Chan fighting off bad guys ‘magically’ through the power of Shopee’s ‘big discounts’. For every press of the actor on his phone, discount bubbles pop up such as “$60 CASHBACK ALL DAY,” sending an enemy down and defeated. 

Shopee
Screenshots from Shopee’s latest 11.11 ad

Apparently, the negative sentiment by the mass audience drew some parallel with professional opinion, which is Shopee’s seeming failure to leverage Chan’s martial arts prowess. Following Bleasdale’s post, MARKETECH APAC formally reached out to some of the advertising professionals that commented on the post.

A consensus among the creative leaders was Shopee’s perceived faulty decision to favor a fictional story of ‘powerful’ discounts rather than spotlighting the ambassador’s renowned action-comedy branding. 

A leader from ad agency Cheil Singapore described the ad as an “orange mess,” while an advisory board member from martech DAIVID said the ad could have been an opportunity to have “some whacky martial-arts impossibility” performed by the ambassador. 

Digimind had rounded up some definitive comments which had been in agreement with the said professional flak. 

Digimind_ social mentions
Negative and neutral comments on Shopee’s 11.11 ad gathered by Digimind

One tweet said, “I guess Jackie Chan beating up people with a tap of a button is all [we’re] going to get in a Shopee ad.” 

While another wrote on Twitter, “[Jackie Chan] did a [Shopee] ad, my life is ruined.”

Other hostile comments pointed out other ‘less-than-perfect’ elements of the ad such as Chan’s seeming wrinkle-free appearance and how the ad looked like a ‘deepfake’, which is the digital alter of a person’s face. 

“I’m laughing, they [airbrushed] Jackie Chan’s wrinkles…,” one netizen tweeted.

While another one said, “Tell me why I’m so convinced that the Shopee ads with ‘Jackie Chan’ [are] [deepfakes]…” 

According to the report, there were a total of 309 mentions in Southeast Asia, excluding promotional content, about Shopee’s 11.11 ad from the period of October 17 – 31 across leading social media platforms including Facebook and Twitter. 

Digimind social mentions

The study found that Malaysia conversed the most around the campaign with 40% of the mentions coming from the market, followed by the Philippines (30%) and Indonesia (20%).

Digimind top countries

Information from the study also showed that the inaugural Shopee ambassadorship of Chan for 9.9 in August garnered higher traction on social media than the sophomore campaign of the star for 11.11. There had been a 4530% fall in the total volume of mentions for the newer campaign compared to the previous 9.9 over the same period from August 19 – 31.

Shopee’s 11.11 ad was released on YouTube on October 18 across its covered markets in Southeast Asia. Thai viewership of the ad eclipsed the platform’s other markets, registering over 39 million views as of writing.

Digimind’s analysis covered the markets of Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and India.

Manila, Philippines – The Philippines was inundated with reports that the well-famed ‘Globe’ located at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) has been ‘stolen’, to which the management has responded with a statement that it has been ‘working’ with authorities regarding the incident.

Adding to the saga fuel was a video uploaded by netizen Chester Allan Tangonan on Facebook, in which his dashboard attached to his motorcycle captured the ‘moment’ that the Globe had been taken away by a helicopter.

The MOA Globe has been a well-known landmark in Metro Manila that has greeted SM MOA customers since its opening in 2006. In 2009, the ‘Globe’ was equipped with LED lights, and therefore called ‘Globamaze’. The Globe is Asia’s first and only fully global video display installation.

SM MOA Globe
The SM MOA Globe. Photo Courtesy of Charles Gaisano/Flickr

The ‘accidental’ blame on IKEA Philippines

Netizens have speculated at first that the latest ‘stolen MOA Globe’ saga was a marketing stunt by the Philippine arm of multinational furniture giant IKEA. It should be noted that IKEA Philippines, known to be the largest IKEA store globally, is set to open in November 25 this year after delays.

As the ‘stolen MOA Globe’ saga continued, IKEA Philippines recently posted a statement across their social media channels that clarified that their local brand mascot, Tito Ball, was not to be blamed for the incident. They also added that while their mascot was last seen at the vicinity during November 11 this year, they ‘asked’ the public to await ‘investigation’ results.

https://twitter.com/IKEAPHP/status/1459753960886378496

It was Netflix’s ‘Red Notice’ stunt after all

Hours after the ‘incident’ was made public, Netflix Philippines announced across their social media platforms that the Globe is ‘back’, and it was all part of a marketing ploy to promote the platform’s newest film ‘Red Notice’.

The film follows the story of an FBI agent John Hartley, played by Dwayne Johnson, who reluctantly teams up with an international art thief Nolan Booth (played by Ryan Reynolds) to capture Sarah Black, played by Gal Gadot.

Industry insiders have estimated that the film has made US$1.25m to US$1.5m from 750 theaters in the United States before its streaming debut on 12 November.

So, who stole the ‘stunt’? Netizens react

Netizens were quick to assume in the first few hours of the ‘stolen MOA Globe’ incident that IKEA Philippines was the brand behind the stunt due to the nearing opening date of IKEA’s first-ever store in the country. Furthermore, netizens also joked that the Globe might be stolen, only to be replaced by Tito Ball, which takes the personification of a meatball, a known food staple served across IKEA franchises globally.

After the revelation of the marketing stunt by Netflix Philippines, netizens were disappointed with the execution, with many saying that the stunt lacked a ‘surprise element’, a huge contrast to Netflix Philippines’ widespread stunt for the Filipino occult series ‘Trese’, which ranged from ‘slashed’ billboards to taking over the facade of media conglomerate ABS-CBN.

Netizens were also quick to point out that IKEA Philippines got free publicity out of this ‘saga’, due to the lack of information prior to the true nature of the marketing stunt.

Apart from the brand stunts, the ‘incident’ made it to the top trending topics in Twitter Philippines. According to aggregate results from BrandMentions, the hashtag ‘#MOA_GLOBE’ has been shared 26.5k times, with a total reach of 209.5k across the platform.

Manila, Philippines – PR and communications veteran Ferdinand Bondoy has been elected to the board of trustees of two communications industry organizations in the Philippines, namely Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) and the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines.

Through the esteemed appointments, Bondoy has been tapped by both organizations to spearhead each of their leading programs dedicated to communications students in the country.

He is serving as the co-chair of IABC’s Philippine Student Quill Awards, the prestigious awards program in the field of business communication. Meanwhile, PRSP has named Bondoy as chair of the Students’ PR Congress, which has been rebranded to Students’ PR Con, its annual event for students’ learning; and Grand Prix, PRSP’s first hack sprint edition. Under his term at PRSP, Bondoy will be introducing and leading the first virtual edition of the said student activities.

Bondoy is currently the regional integration and chief executive director of integrated communications agency, COMCO Southeast Asia, which he co-founded in 2016. He also serves as the board director of the newly launched Middle East & Africa branch of COMCO.

Bondoy said that he sees the positions as an opportunity to give back to the industry by preparing the next generation of communications and public relations professionals and leaders, just like how he was honed in the field. 

“It has come full circle and I think this is the reason why I was given this position, to complete the narrative that the seed sowed yesterday are the fruits harvested today,” commented Bondoy.

As Bondoy leads the student-focused initiatives, his stellar scholastic record comes to light having been an academic scholar and graduating with Latin Honors back as a mass communication major. Jumping to become a young professional, Bondoy had been assimilated to IABC Philippines as he led projects for the digital communications committee of the Philippine Quill and Student Quill Awards and eventually served as an evaluator of the award-giving body.

Bondoy’s membership to IABC’s Board of Trustees will be until 2023, where he was named as corporate secretary and chair of the digital communications and public relations committee. Meanwhile, Bondoy’s election to PRSP’s board had been initiated in early 2021.

Manila, Philippines – Lista, Philippine-grown bookkeeping app for MSMEs has announced that they have raised an oversubscribed round from various venture capital firms, including 1982 Ventures, East Ventures, Saison Capital, and Alternate Ventures, as well as Monde Nissin Family Ventures’ Willy Arifin, and prominent angel investors. 

Through the new funding, Lista said that it will be growing its team and expanding its product offering to reach more MSMEs in the country, including freelancers, logistics operators, and riders, among others.

Lista, which was launched in September 2021, offers a free and secure way of managing finances such as tracking debts, recording transactions, and issuing invoices.

Aaron Villegas, Lista’s co-founder, shared that helping MSMEs has always been an advocacy close to his heart, seeing how his own family dealt with running a community store in the past.

“I spent almost a year just talking to various MSMEs in the province and trying different ideas to help them grow. And that’s when I realized that the first thing to do to really help them grow is through digitization and replacing pen and paper with easy-to-use tech,” said Villegas.

Meanwhile, Khriz Lim, the co-founder of Lista, stated, “Through this app, we want to revolutionize the way MSMEs operate and provide them with a reliable digital partner for small businesses in the country.”

Manila, Philippines – With a fast-growing base of digital consumers and merchants, acceleration in e-commerce, and food delivery, the Philippines’ current internet economy has been recorded as the nation with the highest internet economy growth, with a rate of 93%, according to the latest collaborative research from Google, Temasek, Bain & Company. This has previously been predicted to grow from US$9b in 2020 to US$17b this year. 

Currently, the SEA region is estimated to reach US$174b in gross merchandise value (GMV) by the end of 2021. Furthermore, the region’s digital economy is further expected to reach US$360b by 2025, outgrowing the earlier projection of US$300b.

“Much like the rest of the region, the Philippines is entering its digital decade as the internet increasingly becomes an integral part of the consumers’ daily lives. The growth of the digital market in the country was driven by the explosive 132% growth in e-commerce and double-digit growth across all sectors including food delivery services,” noted the study.

The country has seen 12 million new digital consumers since the start of the pandemic, up to the first half of 2021. About 63% of those new digital consumers are from non-metro areas and 99% say that they intend to continue using these services going forward. Pre-pandemic users have consumed an average of 4.3 more services since the pandemic began and 95% of those pre-pandemic consumers are still found to be digitally-inclined consumers today.

“The pandemic has led to enduring digital adoption in Southeast Asia, which has propelled its internet economy to new heights. Temasek looks forward to increasing our investments in Southeast Asia’s digital champions, using our capital to catalyse digital solutions and accelerate economic growth and job opportunities for our local communities,” said Rohit Sipahimalani, chief investment strategist and head of Southeast Asia at Temasek.

It is estimated that the Philippines’ overall internet economy will likely reach US$40b in value, growing at 24% CAGR, which can be amplified due to strict lockdowns as well as heightened adoption of certain digital services.

Willy Chang, associate partner at Bain & Company, commented, “The Philippines’ internet economy is the fastest growing in SEA as a result of strict COVID-19 restrictions and a large number of new digital consumers. There remains ample headroom for growth as long as digital enablers continue to develop. For example, we saw a strong adoption of digital payment methods such as e-wallets and national real-time payment rails which facilitated the growth of the internet economy.” 

The report also noted that 39% of local digital merchants believe they would not have survived the pandemic if not for digital platforms. Digital merchants now use an average of two digital platforms, but profitability remains a top concern. Digital financial services saw very rapid growth this year, not only from e-wallets but also from the national payment rail. 

Of the digital merchants surveyed, 97% now accept digital payments, while 67% have adopted digital lending solutions. Many are also embracing digital tools to engage with their customers, with 68% expecting to increase usage of digital marketing tools in the next five years.

Bernadette Nacario, country director at Google Philippines said, “The digital adoption we’ve seen in the Philippines since last year has contributed to the accelerated growth of the country’s internet economy, magnifying its vast potential. Google is committed to helping Filipinos maximize the opportunities of going digital and helping the country shape an internet economy that is equitable, safe, and inclusive through programs and products that improve lives.”

Manila, Philippines – Mynt, the fintech company under telecommunications company Globe, has recently raised US$300m in funding, therefore valuing the company now at US$2b. Said funding has been led by investors Warburg Pincus, Insight Partners and Bow Wave.

Mynt has been at the forefront of the digital transformation among Filipinos as the ‘go-to’ payment and financial services solution to over 48 million users, nearly half of the national population. 

With the continued relevance of the app among its users, Mynt is on track to reach ₱3t of gross transaction value, 3 times more than last year’s record number. The company has also recorded peak daily app log-ins and daily active transactions of 19 million and 12 million, respectively.

For Martha Sazon, president and CEO of Mynt, this is further proof that their growth and achievements have not gone unnoticed. 

“We have been able to continuously expand by introducing game-changing innovations while improving our profitability profile. We are excited about our new partnership with Warburg, Insight, Itai Tsiddon and Amplo, as they each bring strategic value to our team in the pursuit of our vision towards finance for all,” Sazon stated.

Meanwhile, Ernest Cu, chairman of the board of Mynt and president and CEO of Globe, commented, “Their investment in Mynt and GCash further validates the strides the company has made in providing access to innovative financial services to more Filipinos and highlighting the Philippines to the global investor audience. Together with the continued support of Mynt’s existing shareholders, we are confident of furthering Mynt’s market leadership and creating positive and transformative disruption in the Philippine financial services sector.”

Mynt offers a full array of financial services, spanning credit, savings, insurance, loans, and investments. Assets Under Management (AUM) for its GSave product has grown to over ₱9b, from ₱5b in 2020, while its GInvest product has already captured 70% of the domestic market of total UITF accounts. GInsure, GCash‘s microinsurance offering launched in 2020, accounts for 1/3 of all new insurance policies issued in the Philippines.

In addition, GCash’s GCredit disburses over ₱1b worth of loans each month, with ₱15b worth having been disbursed as of June 2021, and boasts the best repayment rates locally with the lowest past-due and non-performing loans. Mynt also piloted GLoan, a cash loan product that allows qualified users to borrow as much as ₱25k, with repayment spread over 12 months.

Manila, Philippines – The Philippine arm of fashion and lifestyle e-commerce ZALORA has partnered with RCBC Bankard Services Corporation, the credit card arm of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC), to launch the ZALORA Credit Card. 

The fashion and lifestyle credit card rewards customers every time they shop on ZALORA, and also promises to give rewards to transactions made outside the platform.

A 6% cashback will be granted when shopping on ZALORA, while a 2% ZALORA cashback can be earned for all online expenditures on other websites or apps. 

Of the launch, Paulo Campos III, ZALORA Philippines’ co-founder and CEO, said it is its biggest to date. 

“We are very proud to join hands with RCBC on this landmark initiative. We are entering the fourth quarter not only with bigger and better 11.11 and 12.12 mega sales to look forward to, but also the first credit card dedicated to elevating our consumers’ fashion and lifestyle shopping experience,” said Campos. 

Regardless of the platform, ZALORA Credit Card holders will receive 1 reward point for every P50 spent on all purchases. The accumulated reward points can be spent on a variety of products at ZALORA which range from wardrobe and home essentials to luxurious gifts. 

As a welcome gift, new cardholders will be receiving a P5,000 ZALORA cashback, as well as an annual ZALORA Now subscription for free express shipping, which will be valid for 365 days. As a Mastercard Titanium card, availing of the fashion and lifestyle credit card will come with no annual fee for the first year, where a P4,000 principal will apply for subsequent years.

Upon approval, cardholders will be issued a separate virtual credit card. Being a cardholder will also be coming with exclusive ZALORA perks such as priority access to brand launches and mega sale events, and exclusive discounts from top local and international brands on ZALORA that can be redeemed on top of the ZALORA Credit Card rewards.

ZALORA said the launch of the credit card comes against the backdrop of the ongoing pandemic, where a number of Filipinos are shopping online for the first time as everyone continues to stay home. ZALORA aims to leverage the emerging online shopping behavior in strengthening its consumer loyalty.

“This strategic partnership is very timely given the growing e-commerce industry and the improving economic outlook in the Philippines. Together with ZALORA and Mastercard, we are delighted to be ushering a more dynamic, superbly rewarding, and secure payment experience that complements our customers’ evolving lifestyle,” said Arniel Ong, president & CEO of RCBC Bankard.

Meanwhile, Simon Calasanz, Mastercard Philippines’ country manager, commented, “As more Filipinos adopt cashless digital payments to enable how they live and work, it is critical that Mastercard together with partners like ZALORA and RCBC Bankard continue to bring digital-first user experiences to market.” 

He adds, “The ZALORA co-brand card brings many firsts to market, and Mastercard is excited to play a role in this priceless partnership.”

The ZALORA Credit Card also boasts a connected smart shopping experience, as well as a commitment to sustainability. 

To make it easier for consumers to analyze their expenditures, holders of the credit card will be able to view categorized summaries of their transactions, to turn monthly credit statements into convenient and insightful budgeting tools.

Customers will be able to monitor their expenditures via an SMS alert on transactions based on parameters that they can define and personalize according to their list of expenses, encompassing factors like monthly budgets and supplementary card transactions. 

In addition, the ZALORA Credit Card has been made with sustainable materials, specifically with 84% bio-sourced polylactic acid (PLA) derived from non-edible corn. Supplied by EMV chip manufacturer, Thales, the unique and eco-friendly material is expected to set a precedent for a wider shift towards sustainability in the local banking sector.

Customers can now apply for the ZALORA Credit Card at its website.

Manila, Philippines – Bank ING Philippines is launching a one-of-a-kind partnership with Krispy Kreme – the two have just launched a limited-edition donut to celebrate the bank’s 31st anniversary. 

The donuts are rightly created, glimmering with a bright orange color – the bank’s trademark hue. It is presented with two variants – one plain and the other adorned with sprinkles. 

ING said that for its anniversary, it didn’t want to go with the usual ‘birthday cake’. 

ING is a global banking service with Dutch origins. The firm established itself in the Philippines in 1990, providing wholesale banking services to international and local corporations. Just like any brand and consumer service today, the bank has also added digital to its proposition, forging a name in digital and mobile banking.

Alongside the customized treats, there will also be a special ING x Krispy Kreme Birthday Blowout Promo, where ING customers will be eligible for two free Original Glazed doughnuts at Krispy Kreme for a minimum ₱200 single-receipt purchase using their ING Pay Visa physical debit card for dine-in and take-out transactions.

The bank shared that they chose to commemorate the anniversary through the theme due to Filipinos’ love for sweet desserts and delicacies 

“It also aligns with a core thrust of ING – to deliver delightful feeling and bring smiles to its customers,” said ING in a press release. 

The limited-edition donuts will only be available to select partners. Meanwhile, the Birthday Blowout Promo has started running on 21 October and will last until 31 October. Customers can avail of the promo from any of the 93 participating Krispy Kreme branches nationwide excluding delivery transactions.

ING Philippines shared that other fun activities will be announced on its social media pages and website. 

Manila, Philippines – Following the announcement of the partnership between global platform for user-generated stories, Wattpad, and Filipino live streaming platform, kumu, in July, the tie-up has finally come out with its very first ‘Wattpad Fan Fest’, a virtual event where fans, readers, and authors can engage and celebrate with the Filipino Wattpad Community. 

The ‘Wattpad Fan Fest’, which will happen on 31 October 2021, aims to bring exciting shows and surprises to delight the reading and writing community for a full day, starting at 10:30 am until 10:00 pm PHT on the @wattpadPH kumu channel. 

Through the event, fans can get a chance to attend multiple ‘Meet and Greets’ throughout the day, play interactive quiz games such as ‘Guess The Story’ and ‘Guess the Star’, and attend a workshop called ‘From Stories to Stars’, featuring writers Loridee DeVilla, Claudia Tan, and Wattpad representatives Aron Levitz, the president of Wattpad WEBTOON Studios and Maria Hall, the international writer lead of Wattpad. 

In addition, the virtual fanfest includes a panel discussion on ‘Publishing as a Passion’ by Wattpad authors Greenwriter, TheCatWhoDoesntMeow, Patyeah, heartlessnostalgia, and kissmyredlips, as well as publishing experts Ryan Benitez of Wattpad, and Anvil’s Arlyn Dimayuga and AJ Villamar. It will also feature ‘Wattpad Fanfest Special’, a live reading of excerpts from Wattpad story ‘He’s Into Her and The Four Bad Boys and Me!’.

Kyla Relucio, kumu’s content partnerships director, said, “kumu has always been groundbreaking in its efforts – from its digital capabilities to innovative show concepts, to its culture that celebrates all creative talents. Kumu is the world we’ve always wanted to build, and we’re so happy to be growing along with them every day.”

Chris Stefanyk, the head of brand partnerships at Wattpad, commented that they appreciate kumu as its safe space allows people to directly engage with their readers, fans, and even idols.

“Through the different live streams, activities, and events, the community is able to come together in a new way and build this exciting culture powered by fresh, creative energy. This is what the writing community has always sought to achieve on a deeper level, and it’s been amazing,” said Stefanyk.